After exporting .pst versions of my contacts, notes, calendar and tasks to my
external hard drive as an attempted back-up of my Outlook data, I'm having
the following problems:

1. I can't open the files. I get a message saying that these files are
used by the operating system and that editing them could damage the system.
Then, it asks me which program to use to open the files (I have no idea).

How do I access these back-up copies on my external hard drive?

2. I can't delete the .pst files from my external hard drive. The
"read-only" box was not checked under "Properties."

If I choose to do so, how do I delete the .pst files from my external hard
drive?

Thank you for any help you can provide!

Lea wrote:

> After exporting .pst versions of my contacts, notes, calendar and tasks to my
> external hard drive as an attempted back-up of my Outlook data, I'm having
> the following problems:
>
> 1. I can't open the files.

Rather than guess, explain just HOW you are opening the .pst files.

> How do I access these back-up copies on my external hard drive?

In Outlook, use the File -> Open menu.

> 2. I can't delete the .pst files from my external hard drive.

Which means they are still in use. Did you exit (not minimize) Outlook
before trying to delete the files?

You dont Export to create a backup
With outlook closed you simply copy the data files, or use the free backup
addin available from MS Outlook site

"Lea" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:19FF1732-DFF7-40D9-817A-(E-Mail Removed)...
> After exporting .pst versions of my contacts, notes, calendar and tasks to
> my
> external hard drive as an attempted back-up of my Outlook data, I'm having
> the following problems:
>
> 1. I can't open the files. I get a message saying that these files are
> used by the operating system and that editing them could damage the
> system.
> Then, it asks me which program to use to open the files (I have no idea).
>
> How do I access these back-up copies on my external hard drive?
>
> 2. I can't delete the .pst files from my external hard drive. The
> "read-only" box was not checked under "Properties."
>
> If I choose to do so, how do I delete the .pst files from my external hard
> drive?
>
> Thank you for any help you can provide!

VanguardLH,

Thank you so much for your reply.

You asked me to be specific about how I attempted to open the files. I
originally tried double clicking on their icons in my external hard drive
window. That didn't work. After your suggestion, I tried the "File" then
"Open" commands in Outlook with each of my exported .pst files (Contacts,
Calendar, Tasks, Notes).

After doing this with Contacts, I noticed a corner box that listed
"Contacts" and "Contacts in Personal Folder". Clicking on "Contacts in
Personal Folder" successfully displayed all of my contacts. Does this
represent my back-up contacts copy?

I tried opening the other exported files this same way. This caused the
screen to split and a box labeled "Personal Folders" to appear. The
"Personal Folders" box was empty and I couldn't seem to retrieve back-up
copies of my calendar, notes or tasks. Any idea what this means?

I'm really not sure how to tell if Outlook is retrieving a back-up copy when
I use the "File" then "Open" commands.

I'm also not sure why I initially couldn't move or delete the .pst files as
I'm pretty certain that Outlook was closed at the time. In any case, that
problem later resolved on its own.

Lea

"VanguardLH" wrote:

> > 1. I can't open the files.
>
> Rather than guess, explain just HOW you are opening the .pst files.
>
> > How do I access these back-up copies on my external hard drive?
>
> In Outlook, use the File -> Open menu.
>
> > 2. I can't delete the .pst files from my external hard drive.
>
> Which means they are still in use. Did you exit (not minimize) Outlook
> before trying to delete the files?
>

DL,

Thank you for your reply.

Strangely enough, the Outlook 2003 help info clearly states that, at least
for contacts, exporting is the proper way to create a back-up copy. I have
read many posts on this board that dispute that, however, so I'm open to
trying something new.

How exactly do I copy the data files as you suggest? I tried copying and
pasting the entire "Outlook.pst" file found at C:\Documents & Settings\[User
Name]\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.pst to my
external hard drive, but it wouldn't transfer and I got the following error
message:

"Cannot copy Outlook. The process cannot access the file because another
process has locked a portion of the file."

Is there another way to copy this data? Or do you know how to "unlock"
whatever is locked?

What is the name of the free back-up program provided at the MS Outlook
site? Where do I get it? Will it work with Outlook 2003?

Thanks again.

Lea

"DL" wrote:

> You dont Export to create a backup
> With outlook closed you simply copy the data files, or use the free backup
> addin available from MS Outlook site
>

Lea wrote:

> You asked me to be specific about how I attempted to open the files. I
> originally tried double clicking on their icons in my external hard drive
> window. That didn't work. After your suggestion, I tried the "File" then
> "Open" commands in Outlook with each of my exported .pst files (Contacts,
> Calendar, Tasks, Notes).
>
> After doing this with Contacts, I noticed a corner box that listed
> "Contacts" and "Contacts in Personal Folder". Clicking on "Contacts in
> Personal Folder" successfully displayed all of my contacts. Does this
> represent my back-up contacts copy?
>
> I tried opening the other exported files this same way. This caused the
> screen to split and a box labeled "Personal Folders" to appear. The
> "Personal Folders" box was empty and I couldn't seem to retrieve back-up
> copies of my calendar, notes or tasks. Any idea what this means?
>
> I'm really not sure how to tell if Outlook is retrieving a back-up copy when
> I use the "File" then "Open" commands.
>
> I'm also not sure why I initially couldn't move or delete the .pst files as
> I'm pretty certain that Outlook was closed at the time. In any case, that
> problem later resolved on its own.

Each message store you open in Outlook gets its own tree in the folders
list. All POP and Exchange accounts are aggregated into one message
store. Each HTTP and IMAP account gets its own message store. When you
opened the .pst files using File -> Open, you opened another separate
message store so whatever you stored in it would show up in its own set
of folders.

Outlook not being visible doesn't mean it is closed. You may have
configured it to simply minimize to an icon in the system tray. Closing
a window is not closing the program. Also, it is possible Outlook did
not close properly. After exiting Outlook, check if an outlook.exe
process is still listed in the Programs tab of Task Manager. If so, and
after waiting about a minute, kill it and then manipulate the .pst
files.

Is there a reason why you are exporting contacts separate of calendar
events separate of Tasks separate of Notes rather than copying/moving
them into one .pst file?

Make sure that Outlook is completely closed when copying the PST file
(check with Task Manager).

Better than copy&paste is drag-and-drop.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...F-5A6322F4FD01

Lea wrote:
> DL,
>
> Thank you for your reply.
>
> Strangely enough, the Outlook 2003 help info clearly states that, at least
> for contacts, exporting is the proper way to create a back-up copy. I have
> read many posts on this board that dispute that, however, so I'm open to
> trying something new.
>
> How exactly do I copy the data files as you suggest? I tried copying and
> pasting the entire "Outlook.pst" file found at C:\Documents & Settings\[User
> Name]\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.pst to my
> external hard drive, but it wouldn't transfer and I got the following error
> message:
>
> "Cannot copy Outlook. The process cannot access the file because another
> process has locked a portion of the file."
>
> Is there another way to copy this data? Or do you know how to "unlock"
> whatever is locked?
>
> What is the name of the free back-up program provided at the MS Outlook
> site? Where do I get it? Will it work with Outlook 2003?
>
> Thanks again.
>
> Lea
>
> "DL" wrote:
>
>> You dont Export to create a backup
>> With outlook closed you simply copy the data files, or use the free backup
>> addin available from MS Outlook site

"Lea" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:19FF1732-DFF7-40D9-817A-(E-Mail Removed)...

> After exporting .pst versions of my contacts, notes, calendar and tasks to
> my
> external hard drive as an attempted back-up of my Outlook data, I'm having
> the following problems:

That's not a correct backup process. Just copy the original PST. See this:
http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm
--
Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]